The benefits of curcumin just never seem to end. This amazing plant compound (the active ingredient in turmeric) offers a wide array of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits as well as stifling growth of abnormal cells. Curcumin has been shown to be safe when consumed in high amounts (like 12 grams) per day, however benefit is seen in just 100 mgs daily. Curcumin has been shown to improve:

A new curcumin hybrid compound called CBN-001 has demonstrated it could protect and restore brain cells after stroke in laboratory models. In tests, CBN-001 administered up to one hour after stroke effectively reduced motor control movement problems. This hybrid compound protected and nourished neurons (brain cells) while repairing stroke damage on a molecular level.

Antioxidants are all the rage because they are critical for good health. Antioxidants strengthen cellular function, fight disease and slow aging by inhibiting oxidizing free radical damage. Demand has manufacturers adding antioxidants to sport drinks, pet food, cosmetics, coffee, you-name-it.

Ads splash around enticements like “live longer”, “feel better”, “fight illness”. Antioxidants really can help achieve all these benefits if they actually work by resisting free radical oxidation.

Antioxidants come in the form of certain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients. Our bodies also produce natural antioxidants in the form of glutathione and CoQ10 to support cellular health. Inadequate antioxidant levels are found in virtually every type of disease and are primary contributors to aging.

Sorting through hundreds of antioxidant compounds for what will address your needs can be overwhelming and confusing. If you purchase an antioxidant and start using it, how long will it be before you notice a difference? A few weeks or a few months? Do you need more time or a larger dosage? Is your antioxidant even working? Is it adequately blocking cellular oxidation and cleaning up free radicals?

Oxidation occurs when oxygen molecules react to a substance that they encounter. The amount of oxygen present and the type of material encountered affect the result. Often oxidation is visible to the naked eye. Browning fruit and rusting metal are prime examples of oxidation.

Lemon juice is very high in the antioxidant vitamin C. That’s why sliced fruit dipped in lemon juice neutralizes oxygen molecules in the air and slows down the browning of the fruit. Wax on a car acts like an antioxidant by creating a barrier from the oxidizing air, which maintains the luster of the finish.

Our bodies are assaulted by much more than oxygen air molecules. Bacteria, viruses, free radicals, injuries, disease and aging all damage our cells continuously. Inadequate antioxidant levels leave us vulnerable, or worse, in a state of disease. Antioxidants are the internal cavalry fighting for our health.

Use this simple test to verify a base level of activity in your antioxidant.

Researchers in the United States and Korea recently published a study which found curcumin lowered blood glucose levels, cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetic mice after being supplemented with curcumin for just six weeks. No changes were observed in the the healthy non-diabetic mice. The researchers concluded: “These results suggest that curcumin seemed to be a potential glucose-lowering agent and antioxidant in type 2 diabetic db/db mice”.

A 2009 study released by the Department of Internal Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan observed that curcumin enhanced with piperine decreased the number of cancerous cells in breast tissue. Once again no changes or toxicity were observed in normal healthy cells.

“This shows that these compounds are not toxic to normal breast tissue,” researcher, Kakarala says. “Women at high risk of breast cancer right now can choose to take the drugs tamoxifen or raloxifene for prevention, but most women won’t take these drugs because there is too much toxicity. The concept that dietary compounds can help is attractive, and curcumin and piperine appear to have very low toxicity.”

Some products add piperine to boost the absorption of curcumin because curcumin typically has low bioavailability. Bioavailability is the extent to which a substance can be absorbed. How much you consume of a supplement is less important than how much you absorb.

Curcumin Extreme™ is a unique product formula containing a patented form of enhanced bioavailable and 100% natural curcumin called BCM-95® . BCM-95® is six times more readily absorbed than standard curcumin.

Curcumin is the most biologically active ingredient found in the herb, turmeric, which is part of the ginger family. Used for centuries in Indian cooking, this potent phytochemical (plant chemical) has been identified as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-amyloid (inhibits abnormal protein deposits – like brain plaque), anti-tumor (causes apoptosis or cell death in cancerous cells) and enhances immune system function by increasing the production of glutathione.

If that wasn’t enough – there’s more!

A recent study published in Psychopharmacology on curcumin found that it behaves like a natural antidepressant by increasing serotonin as well as dopamine levels.

Unfortunately, most natural forms of curcumin are not very bioavailable. By the time they pass from the stomach into the small intestine for absorption the active ingredient is quite degraded and has lost its potency. However, a naturally-occurring and patented form of curcumin has been developed called BCM-95®, which delivers six times more bioactive curcumin into the blood than typical curcumin.

Curcumin Extreme™ contains this optimal type of pharmacologically bioactive curcumin known as BCM-95® in a unique synergistic formula.

The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published study results recommending that vitamin D3 be used in conjunction with curcumin to prevent Alzheimer’s and cellular damage/destruction to brain cells caused by free radicals through oxidative stress.

According to Dr. Milan Fiala, study author and a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, “We hope that vitamin D3 and curcumin, both naturally occurring nutrients, may offer new preventive and treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2 is a drinkable, highly bioavailable and active form of D3. Using Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2 along with Curcumin Extreme™ would be an excellent response to Dr. Fiala’s suggestion.

A study of Hawaiian skateboarders (who tended not to use sunscreen) validated this recommendation. Even in this group, 51% had significantly low levels of vitamin D. This is noteworthy considering that just 30 minutes of sunlight on the skin produces approximately 10,000 iu’s of vitamin D in the body.

Healthy adults utilized about 4000 iu’s of vitamin D daily. The Vitamin D Council suggests that supplementing with up to 10,000 iu’s daily of vitamin D3 is very safe for most people.

An interesting connection has been discovered between psoriasis, eczema, Hodgkin’s disease and lymphoid cancer. The connection is a type of white blood cell called a mast cell.

Mast cells are part of our immune system and jump into action when an allergic reaction occurs. An irritant or foreign substance will trigger the release of antibodies, which attach themselves to mast cells. When the irritant comes into contact with the antibody the mast cell erupts, releasing proteins and histamine that, in turn, cause swelling, itching, and/or congestion.

People with high inflammatory symptoms, like those found in psoriasis, eczema, and lymphoid cancers have high levels of mast cells and another immune system protein called CD30. CD30 is a protein found in T-lymphocyte white blood cells. A study done by the Karolinska Institute discovered that CD30 can stimulate mast cell production in healthy skin cells. So the presence of CD30 may trigger an inflammatory mast cell response on its own.

Another elevated protein found in psoriasis and many cancer sufferers is known as C-reactive protein. C-reactive proteins indicate general levels of inflammation in the body. Infections and many types of long term disease, including heart disease, also generate lots of C-reactive proteins.

Incomplete protein digestion may contribute to the cycle of irritants entering the bloodstream, which in-turn can set the stage for mast cell production, elevated CD30, C-reactive proteins and other inflammatory responses.

The future’s so bright for this super nutrient, it really is going to need shades! Formerly, it seemed like we only heard warnings about too much sun exposure. So we heeded recommendations to use sunscreen to protect us from damage to our skin which could make us look older or give us skin cancer.

Now doctors are discovering that the majority of adults and children are not getting enough vitamin D and it is contributing to poor health, so they are recommending supplementing with this vitamin for good reason. Lack of vitamin D has been linked to a wide variety of illness and disease, including:

Osteoporosis

Cancer

High blood pressure

Type 1 diabetes

Tuberculosis

Low back pain

Rheumatoid arthritis

Multiple sclerosis

Birth defects

Parkinson’s disease

Seasonal affective disorder

Periodontal disease

Vitamin D also encourages muscle development. Recent studies done at the University of Manchester have determined that young girls (12-14 years) who were supplemented with vitamin D demonstrated more muscular strength and explosive power.

When selecting a vitamin D supplement bear in mind that D3 is superior to D2 due to it’s bioavailability. The best quality vitamin D supplement that I know of is Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2. Isotonix® D includes a synergistic vitamin known as K2 which, in additional to bone health, promotes vascular integrity. Because this product is an isotonic formula, up to 95% of the nutrients are absorbed and enter into the blood stream just minutes after drinking it.

A controlled study conducted in 2006 of antioxidant levels in a group of people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) determined that they had low levels of vitamin E along with high levels of oxidative stress. One culprit tested for which contributed to the oxidative stress was high amounts of erythrocyte malondialdehydes.

Erythrocyte malondialdehydes are red blood cells which carry a by-product of degraded lipid production that can damage DNA.

The study concluded that there was a significant relationship between OCD and free radical damage caused by oxidative stress.

The elusive nature of multiple sclerosis has been a source of clinical studies for years. Researchers at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam released the results of a study treating 14 multiple sclerosis patients with a combination of antioxidants and other nerve-protecting agents. The treatment resulted in reductions of relapses by two to three fold, plus decreases in corticosteroid medications.

The study concluded that oxidative stress can be counteracted by naturally occurring antioxidant enzymes which go on to provide protection against future oxidative damage to cells and tissue.

Glutathione is a naturally occuring antioxidant which is produced within the cells of our bodies providing protection against toxins. Lack of glutathione is seen in virtually every instance of disease, including multiple sclerosis.

Millions suffer from depression and feelings of sadness along with difficulty falling asleep. Incorporating a simple, natural amino acid like L-tryptophan may be just the ticket to an elevated mood and peaceful sleep!

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which promotes seratonin and, in turn, melatonin balance. A common myth is that tryptophan is what causes sleepiness after eating turkey on Thanksgiving. The actual cause of fatigue is the body’s demand for increased blood flow to the digestive system to handle all the excess calories. Eating any type of large meal can cause sleepiness.

Tryptophan triggers seratonin and melatonin production. Seratonin is the “feel good” hormone which enhances mood and produces feelings of happiness. Melatonin regulates sleep cycles which are often out of order in many people’s hectic lives. Proper amounts of melatonin encourages natural sleep patterns.

Between 1982 and 2005 the FDA banned all forms of tryptophan due to contamination concerns. The only exception was a trademarked form of l-tryptophan known as Tryptopure®. Tryptopure is 99-100% pure and safe.

A study done in 2002 by the College of Medicine in South Korea found that seratonin and melatonin also reduce oxidative stress in the brain.

Unlike many over-the-counter and prescription mood enhancers and sleep aides, l-tryptophan can be used long term quite safely and produces no negative side effects.

Isotonix® L-Tryptophan is made from Tryptopure® and synergistically combines vitamin C, B-3 and B-6 improving the metabolism of this amino acid. Genuine isotonic formulas are extremely bio-available and 95% absorbed unlike capsules, tablets and liquid supplements.